Vertical Form, Fill and Seal Packaging System

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for continuously or intermittently and vertically forming, filling and sealing packaging includes an infeed section, a pleating assembly, a forming tube and a sealing assembly. The pleating assembly imparts at least one pleat to the film. The film may be driven and measured at a nip following the pleating. The forming tube receives the film from the infeed section after the pleat has been made. A film tube is formed about the forming tube. The film tube is vertically fed downward to the sealing assembly which imparts seals to the film tube, thereby forming packages. A hole punch punches holes in the film tube. The film travels a film path that includes the hole punch, the forming tube, the vertical seal assembly and the horizontal seal assembly.

RELATED APPLICATION

This new application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims thebenefit of the filing date of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/101,2125, filed Apr. 8, 2005, entitled Vertical Form, Fill and SealPackaging System, which is a continuation-in-part of, and claims thebenefit of the filing date of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/030,551, filed Jan. 5, 2005, entitled Vertical Form, Fill and SealPackaging System.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the art of pouch machines.More specifically, it relates to machines wherein pouches are formedfrom a continuously or intermittently moving film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vertical form fill and seal continuous and intermittent pouch machinesare known in the art. Generally, they receive a continuous film and formthe film into a film tube (i.e., the film is formed and sealed to have aclosed cross section) about a forming tube. The forming tube typicallyhas a circular or oval cross section, although other cross sections havebeen used. The film is continuously or intermittently fed around theforming tube and sealed vertically to form the film tube. The verticalseal is typically a lap seal or a fin seal.

Forming tubes can include ploughs or tucker bars to form pleats orcreases that can be used to form gussets, to make stand-up pouches. Theplough or tucker bar applies tension in an inward direction creasing thefilm tube. Forming plates may be provided on either side of the plough,applying tension in an outward direction. Two ploughs centered about asingle tucker bar will form a “W” shaped gusset. The ploughs and tuckerbars may be fixed in one location, such as at the bottom of the formingtube, or moveable in any direction. Examples of a tucker bar and formingplates may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,034, hereby incorporated byreference. Tucker bars (and forming plates) may be used on a single sideof the pouch, forming one gusset, or on opposing sides, forming twogussets. Forming tube assemblies may be changed out to form bags ofother sizes. Another prior art machine is shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,691,491, hereby incorporated by reference.

After the film tube passes the forming tube and tucker bar(s) it movesvertically downward to a sealing zone. Seal bars intermittently create ahorizontal seal. The seal bars maybe rotary, and can be in pairs toincrease machine speed. An example of seal bars is given in U.S. Pat.No. 6,519,922, hereby incorporated by reference.

The horizontal seal forms the top seal of the pouch below the seal, andthe bottom of the pouch above the seal. After the seal is formed a scaleor other input device drops a predetermined amount of product throughthe forming tube. At the same time the film tube is advancing downward.When the subsequent seal is formed the product is below the sealingzone. The seal is formed, forming the top seal of the filled pouch andthe bottom seal of the pouch above, thus sealing the product into thepouch. Stripper bars, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,922 maybe used to help ensure the product is below the sealing zone when theseal is made.

Different types of pouches may be formed with vertical form filling sealcontinuous packaging machines, such as pillow bags, stand up pouches,other pouches, etc. Standup pouches are typically formed with a gussetat (what will be) the bottom of the pouch using ploughs and a tucker baras described above. For example, a pouch made on a vertical pouchmachine may have a gusset put on one vertical edge of the pouch.However, when the pouches are separated from one another they arerotated 90 degrees so that what had been the vertical edge (with thegusset) of a pouch becomes the bottom edge of the pouch. The standuppouches look and perform well when one seal is placed at the bottom ofeach of the outer folds of the gusset. (The gusset is usually formed tobe a “W” with the outer folds being the folds the pouch stands on.)However, prior art machines have not been able to reliably place a sealand typically tried to create the seal as the gusset is being formed. Itis difficult with such an arrangement to change features of the pleat,such as depth or location, the entire forming assembly was changed out.Accordingly, a vertical form fill and seal pouch machine that provides agusset with a pleat and seal on the outer folds of the gusset isdesirable. Also, such a pleat should be easily adjustable.

When forming a seal on the bottom of the gusset, a pleat may be formedto locate the seal. However, the film can be difficult to crease withoutdamaging the film. Accordingly, a vertical form fill and seal pouchmachine that provides for pleating the film without damaging it isdesirable.

Stand up pouches are typically formed such that the two sides of thegusset are equal in length. This results in a bag that stands upright.However, other gusset designs may be useful, such as one where thebackside of the gusset is shorter than the front side, so that the pouchtilts away from the consumer or on the shelf. It is desirable to be ableto control the depth and location of pleats and seals used to form agusset, so that the gusset is thereby adjustable. Accordingly, avertical, form fill and seal pouch machine that provides for adjustableseals and pleats on the gusset is desirable.

Standup pouches and are sometimes displayed to the consumer by hangingthem from a rod through a hanger hole punched in the top of the pouch.Holes have been punched in pouches using horizontal machines and usingintermittent vertical machines. It is desirable to provide a holepunches in continuous vertical machines, but thus far a hole punch thatmay be operated fast enough and with sufficient accuracy has not beenavailable. Accordingly, in continuous vertical form fill and sealmachine that provides a hole punch in what will be the top of a pouch isdesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention a vertical, form, fill andseal packaging machine includes an infeed section, a pleating assembly,a forming tube and a sealing assembly. The pleating assembly imparts atleast one pleat to the film. The forming tube receives the film from adriven or measured nip after the pleat has been made. A film tube iscontinuously formed about the forming tube. The film tube is verticallyfed downward to the sealing assembly which imparts seals to the filmtube, thereby forming packages.

According to a second of the invention a method of vertically forming,and sealing packages includes feeding film and imparting at least onepleat to the film. The pleated film is provided to a forming tube from adriven or measured nip and vertical seals are made on the film, therebyforming a film tube. A series of horizontal seals are made to formpackages.

A pleat sealing assembly is disposed to receive the film after it passesthrough the pleating assembly and it seals the at least one pleat inanother embodiment. The pleat is sealed prior to the film being receivedby the forming tube in various embodiments.

The pleating assembly and/or the pleat sealing assembly are in theinfeed section in other embodiments.

The pleating assembly includes at least two pleaters to form at leasttwo pleats in other embodiments.

Each pleater may include an adjustable shoe and a fixed plate in variousembodiments.

User controls for pleat depth adjustment, and/or cross-machine pleatlocation, and\or pleat separation are provided and operatively connectedto the pleating assembly in various embodiments.

The forming is intermittent in some embodiments and continuous in otherembodiments.

The hole punch creates a hanging chad that may have an attached portionof the chad on a leading edge of the hole in other embodiments.

The hole punch is located on the film path after the forming tube andvertical seal assembly, but before the horizontal seal assembly in oneembodiment.

Product is intermittently provided through the forming tube, to filleach package between the horizontal seals.

Other principal features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the followingdrawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a continuous, vertical form, fill and sealpackaging machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a sealing/pleating assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a pleater of FIG. 2, taken along section A-A; and.

FIG. 4 is a view of an alternative pleater of FIG. 2, taken alongsection A-A.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orearned out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Like referencenumerals are used to indicate like components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention will be illustrated with reference to aparticular vertical form fill and seal machine used in a particular way,it should be understood at the outset that the invention can also beimplemented with other machines used in other ways.

Generally, the preferred embodiment of the invention provides for acontinuous, vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine that pleatsthe film, and seals the pleat, prior to the film reaching a formingtube. Also, a hole punch is provided after the film has been formed intoa tube, to provide a hanger hole for the film. The invention may beimplemented using known prior art technology for the remainder of themachine. For example, the preferred embodiment is similar to a CMD CorpCM300® continuous, vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine, butwith the changes described generally above. Alternative embodimentsinclude an intermittent vertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine.

The pleats are formed or imparted to the film and sealed in a pleatassembly in the preferred embodiment. The pleat assembly is located inthe infeed section (the section from the roll of film to the formingtube), and the film is provided to the pleat assembly from the unwindroll. The pleat assembly forms two pleats in the preferred embodiment.Each pleat is formed by the action of a moveable shoe, and an angledfixed (or dead) plate (collectively called a pleater). Pleater, as usedherein, includes the components acting together to form a pleat. Thefilm is pulled along the dead plate until reaching the shoe. The amountof film pulled is half of the depth of the pleat. The film is driven byrolls at the center (cross-direction) of the film, so that the edges ofthe film are free to be drawn inward as the pleat is formed.

The pleat is easily adjusted by the user without reconfiguring themachine. The pleat depth is adjusted by adjusting the position of theshoe relative to the angled dead plate, the distance between the pleatsis adjusted by adjusting the distance between pairs of shoes and deadplates. The cross machine location of the pleats is adjusted byadjusting the cross machine location of both pleaters. The adjustmentsare made by turning knobs connected via gears to mounting plates for theshoes and dead plates.

The film travels from the pleat assembly to a sealing zone, whereradiant heat is used to heat the film and impart a seal. The radiantheat seals the film, which is preferably a PET film having a 48 gaugethickness (100 gauge= 1 mil=0.001 inch), with a co-extruded sealantlayer 2-3 mils thick (for example, an LLDPE, HDPE, or ME or combinationsthereof for the sealant layer). Other films and film thicknesses may beused. A backing plate is provided to help create a “heat chamber”through which the pleated film passes.

The preferred embodiment further provides for a hole punch assembly tobe mounted between the forming tube and the horizontal seal bars (it ismounted in other locations in other embodiments). The hole punch ispreferably synchronized to the horizontal seal bars to form a singlehole per pouch. The hole punch must be fast enough to punch the hole atspeed the machine will inn, and is a D30 punch unit from MAL Ltd., inthe preferred embodiment. The hole punch creates a hanging chad (toavoid the mess of punched chads) and leaves the leading 25% of the chadattached, so the chad is pressed back into the hole from which it wasformed as the pouch moves downstream. Alternative embodiments providefor different shaped holes, multiple holes, removed chads, or chadsattached differently.

Referring now to FIG. 1 a continuous, vertical form, fill and sealpackaging machine 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment isshown. It operates generally as the prior art CMD Corp. CM 300®operates, with the changes described below. The preferred embodimentincludes a machine that makes only pouches, but it could be implementedon a machine with rotatable, a quick change unit, or a traditionalchange unit, to also make pillow bags or other style packages. Also, thepreferred embodiment includes a continuous machine, but alternativesinclude intermittent machines. Before describing the differences betweenthe preferred embodiment and the prior art, the common features will bebriefly described.

Generally, the film is unwound from a roll by infeed section 102, passesthrough a dancer assembly 103, a gusset hole punch 105, and provided toa forming tube 104. A vertical seal assembly 106 creates a continuousvertical seal. Forming tube 104 includes a tucker bar and ploughassembly that form a gusset in accordance with the prior art. After thegusset is formed a horizontal seal is created with horizontal sealassembly 108. A scale assembly 110 drops a measured amount of productthrough the forming tube, filling the pouch, after each horizontal sealis made. It may also have other known features such as notching assembly109 for notching a zipper.

Continuous, vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine 100 includes,unlike the prior art, a pleating/sealing assembly 111, which includes apleat assembly 120 (FIG. 2), a pleat sealer 122 (FIG. 2) and a holepunch assembly 124. A single machine controller controls the new and oldoperations to accurately synchronize the entire process. The operationof is generally described above, and will be described in more detailbelow. A film 201 is shown having a path from a film roll 115, to dancerassembly 103, to gusset hole punch 105, to pleating/sealing assembly111, to forming tube 104, past vertical seal assembly 106, to hole punchassembly 124 and then to horizontal seal assembly 108. A zipper notchassembly 109 is also shown.

While the preferred embodiment is shown using a vertical machine, it isalso contemplated using the invention on a horizontal machine. Forexample, notch assembly 109 (as well as other features herein) may bereadily adapted to a horizontal machine.

Notch assembly 109 may be constructed in accordance with the prior art.However, prior art systems result in slippage of one side of the zipperor other closure mechanism relative to the other this slippage maybecaused by a number of different reasons. As the film is pulled overidler rolls, the side of the zipper or other closure mechanism incontact with the idler roll has more friction, and will be pulled backmore than the non-contact side. When this occurs after the notch hasbeen created, the notch becomes effectively smaller because the start ofthe contact side of the zipper is offset from the start of thenon-contact side. For example, if the notch is one inch, and the contactside is offset ⅜ of an inch, the notch will be only ¼ inch—where thecontact side notch overlaps with the non-contact side notch.

One embodiment provides for bonding the upper zipper or other closuremechanism and the lower zipper or other closure mechanism to preventslippage. The bonding can be done in any manner, such as with thermalbonding, gluing, tacking or crushing, ultrasonic, laser, embossing,pressure sealant/cold sealant, electrostatic pinning, fibers, etc. Thebonding helps reduce slipping of the contact side relative to thenon-contact side, and thus reduces narrowing of the notch. The bondingis preferably done on the zipper, not the flanges, although it may bedone on the flanges in various embodiments. As with other features ofthis invention, it may be implemented in a vertical or horizontalarrangement.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a side view of pleat/seal assembly 111,including assembly 120 and pleat sealer 122, is shown. A film 201 movesthrough these assemblies in a generally upward direction, as shown byarrow 203. Film 201 passes through pleat assembly 120 and is driven byrolls in the center of film 201 to allow the film edges to be drawn inby a pleater 301.

Pleater 301 is shown in FIG. 3, along with a pleater 303. FIG. 3 is aview taken along lines A-A of FIG. 2. Pleater 301 includes a moveableshoe 304, a fixed plate 305 and a mounting plate 306. Moveable shoe 304is generally rectangular, and fixed plate 305 is angled along an edge316 where the pleat is formed. The film moves in the direction of arrow310, and the pleat is formed by drawing the film inward from where anedge 315 of dead plate 305 crosses angled edge 316 of shoe 304. The filmis drawn in and pleated until the upper edge of shoe 304 is reached.Thus, the depth of the pleat is a distance 318, from edge 316 to thecenter most (center in the cross machine direction) part of edge 315.Moving shoe 304 towards the center decreases the pleat depth and movingshoe 304 away from the center increases the pleat depth. Shoe 304 isconnected to a user-adjustable knob at the side of continuous, verticalform, fill and seal packaging machine 100 to allow the user to easilyadjust the depth of the pleat.

Pleater 303 has a mirror image design, and operates in a similar manner.The two pleats can be adjusted to have different depths by unequallyadjusting shoes 304 and 307.

Pleaters 301 and 303 are mounted on plates that may be moved in thecross machine direction to adjust the position of the pleats relative toone another. Using two adjustments, one for the distance between them,and the other for left to right adjustment, they can be adjusted tovirtually any cross machine direction. These adjustments can be madeeasily by turning a few knobs, and without changing the machine setup orswapping parts in and out.

The preferred embodiment provides for a pleat depth (i.e., the distancethe pleat extends from the flat surface) of between ⅛ to ¼ inch, andother distances are provided in alternative embodiments. The preferredembodiment further provides for an adjusted distance between pleats of 1inch to 4.25 inches, centered about the midline of the film. Otheradjusted distances may be provided. For example, if the pleats areslightly off center, the pouch will tip on display, for shingling orviewing.

Referring again to FIG. 2, after the pleat is formed a tension roll 205is provided which helps prevent the pleats from opening. Film 201 thentravels to pleat sealing assembly 122. Pleat sealing assembly 122includes a radiant heater 307 (which is two vertical heat bars, eachaligned with a pleat, in the preferred embodiment), and a backing plate309. Backing plate 309 helps form a heat chamber to hold heat in so thatthe seal is properly made. Preferably, backing plate 309 is disposed tojust touch film 201, and is Teflon® coated to avoid sticking. Thepreferred film has adhesive on only one side (the sides that touch whenthe pleat is formed). When the process is stopped, heater 307 can betilted back to avoid applying heat to the stopped film. Also, in thepreferred embodiment, the heat is applied in a low or no tension area,to reduce the likelihood of sticking. Alternative embodiments includerunning the film on a cushion of air to reduce friction (in the sealingor pleating areas), and/or using other devices to make the seal, such asultrasonic or infrared heaters.

After the pleats are sealed, pleated film 210 passes over a largediameter roll 313 that cools the heated film. Roll 313 is passivelycooled, although it could be actively cooled. The large diameter alsoprovides tension to help hold the pleats in place. Following largediameter roll 313, the film can be turned by small diameter roll,because the pleat seals have been set.

One advantage of forming the pleats prior to forming the film tube isthat the gusseting is a much easier and more natural process withpleated film, compared to flat film. Another advantage is the systemcould intermittently apply pleats, if so desired. If a pleat is largeenough, the web is narrower at the forming tube, thus the machine can bedesigned with this in mind. For example, for two pleats, each 0.25inches deep, the web will be 1 inch narrower after the pleats areformed.

The film is then provided to forming tube 104. Preferably the formingcollar is gently sloped, to accommodate the pleats. The preferredforming tube has a cut away section is toward the bottom of the formingtube with ploughs aligned with the pleats to form the gusset. As statedabove, a pleated film makes forming a gusset less difficult because ithelps locate the film in the proper position. Preferably, the pleatsstabilizes the process so that it is more readily repeatable, andreduces the need for fine tuning the machine when setting it up. Thepreferred embodiment runs at about a hundred bags a minute, althoughgreater or lessor throughputs are contemplated, as is intermittentoperation.

The film is pulled over the forming collar and down the forming tube bypull belts. The multi-layer film (from the pleats) requires greatertension to pull than a single layer film, so the vertical pull belt isprovided with larger holes and vacuum pockets to help grip the film.Preferably the holes are 5/32 inches in diameter, and the vacuum pocketsare ¼ inch wide, 1 inch long, and ⅛ inch deep, and set at a 45 degreeangle relative to the machine direction. A gear box with a 5:1 ratioprovides the increased torque needed to pull the film over the collarand maintain the desired registration.

An alternative embodiment entails using a collar having a cut-out wherethe pleats are. This reduces the tension needed to pull the film butreduces the adjustability, since the pleats must line up with thecut-outs.

Hole punch assembly 124 is disposed below forming tube 104 and above thehorizontal seal assembly 108, and located to punch a generally circularhole in the vertical seal (the opposite end of the pouch from thegusset). The punch preferably leaves a hanging chad, roughly attachedalong the leading quarter-edge, so that chads do not create a mess, andthe chad lays flat after being created. The punch is synchronized withhorizontal seal assembly 106 so that one hole per pouch is made, and itis located midway along the top (after the pouch is rotated so thevertical seal is at the top). Alternatives include removing the chad,punching multiple holes, leaving the chad attached in differentlocations, and holes that have other shapes.

The above described embodiment has one mechanism driving or pulling thefilm—the vacuum pull belt. In some circumstances the pleat assembly andpleated film will have drag such that additional driving of the film isdesirable. Thus, an alternative pleat/seal assembly 411 is shown in FIG.2, and is similar to assembly 111, but includes a pair of servo drivenrolls 401 and 403 that form a servo driven nip through which film 201passes. Other types of driven rolls may be used. The driven nip ispreferably used to measure the film for a particular bag length (andthus also a measured driven nip). Thus, the vacuum pull belt merelyneeds to pull the film to keep sufficient tension.

Numerous modifications may be made to the present invention which stillfall within the intended scope hereof. Thus, it should be apparent thatthere has been provided in accordance with the present invention amethod and apparatus for continuous, vertical form, fill and sealpackaging that fully satisfies the objectives and advantages set forthabove. Although the invention has been described in conjunction withspecific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

1-31. (canceled)
 32. A method of vertically, forming, and sealingpackages, comprising: feeding film; imparting at least one pleat to thefilm; providing the pleated film to a forming tube and imparting avertical seal to the film, thereby forming a film tube; and applying aseries of horizontal seals, thereby forming packages.
 33. The method ofclaim 32, further comprising intermittently providing product throughthe forming tube, to fill each package between the horizontal seals. 34.The method of claim 32, further comprising sealing the at least onepleat.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the pleat sealing is doneprior to the film being received by the forming tube, and the feeding iscontinuous.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising adjusting apleat depth in response to a user controlled pleat depth adjustment. 37.The method of claim 36, further comprising adjusting a cross-machinelocation of the pleat location in response to a user controlledcross-machine direction pleat location adjustment.
 38. The method ofclaim 37, wherein imparting the pleat includes passing the film past anadjustable shoe and a fixed plate.
 39. The method of claim 32, furthercomprising imparting at least a second pleat.
 40. The method of claim39, further comprising sealing the at least a second pleat.
 41. Themethod of claim 40, wherein the second pleat sealing is done prior tothe film being received by the forming tube.
 42. The method of claim 39,further comprising adjusting a pleat depth in response to a usercontrolled pleat depth adjustment.
 43. The method of claim 39, furthercomprising adjusting a cross-machine location of the pleat location inresponse to a user controlled cross-machine direction pleat locationadjustment.
 44. The method of claim 40, wherein imparting the at least asecond pleat includes passing the film past an adjustable shoe and afixed plate.
 45. The method of claim 36, further comprisingintermittently punching a hole in the film after the film reaches theforming tube.
 46. The method of claim 41, wherein the intermittentpunching is synchronized with the horizontal sealing to form one holefor each package.
 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the punchingincludes leaving a hanging chad.
 48. The method of claim 47, whereinleaving includes leaving an attached portion of the chad on a leadingedge of the hole. 49-53. (canceled)
 54. The vertical, form, fill andseal packaging machine of claim 54, further comprising means for sealingthe at least one pleat, disposed to receive the film after it passesthrough the means for imparting and before the film is received by themeans for forming.
 55. The vertical, form, fill and seal packagingmachine of claim 54, further comprising a user controlled means foradjusting a pleat depth operatively connected to the means forimparting.
 56. The vertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine ofclaim 54, further comprising a user controlled means for adjusting across-machine direction pleat location operatively connected to themeans for imparting.
 57. The vertical, form, fill and seal packagingmachine of claim 54, wherein the at least one seal is two or more seals.58. The vertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 57,further comprising a user controlled means for adjusting pleatseparation operatively connected to the means for imparting.
 59. Thevertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 54, furthercomprising means for punching a hole in the film, and disposed toreceive the film after the film reaches the means for forming.
 60. Thevertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 59, wherein themeans for punching is further for leaving an attached portion of a chadon a leading edge of the hole. 61-68. (canceled)
 69. A vertical, form,fill and seal packaging machine, comprising: means for feeding film;means for imparting at least one pleat to the film; means for providingthe pleated film to a forming tube and means for forming a vertical sealto the film, thereby forming a film tube, disposed to receive the filmfrom the means for feeding, and after the film is acted upon by themeans for imparting; and means for applying a series of horizontalseals, thereby forming packages, disposed to receive the film from themeans for imparting.
 70. The vertical form, fill and seal packagingmachine of claim 69, further comprising means for sealing the at leastone pleat disposed to act on the film before the film reaches theforming tube.
 71. The vertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine ofclaim 70, wherein the at least one pleat is two or more pleats.
 72. Thevertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 71, furthercomprising means for controlling at least one of a pleat depth, across-machine direction pleat location, and a pleat separation,operatively connected to the means for imparting.
 73. The vertical,form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 72, further comprisingmeans for intermittently punching a hole in the film after the film tubeis formed.
 74. The vertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine ofclaim 73, wherein the means for intermittent punching is synchronizedwith the means for applying, to form one hole for each package.
 75. Thevertical, form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 69, wherein themeans for feeding is further for continuously feeding.
 76. The vertical,form, fill and seal packaging machine of claim 74, wherein the punchingincludes leaving a hanging chad with an attached portion of the chad ison a leading edge of the hole. 77-78. (canceled)